Skeyndor Skincare - Water For Your Skin

Hi everyone, 

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be one of the winners in a magazine giveaway. The prize I got was the Power Hyaluronic Moisturizing Booster by a brand called Skeyndor. Have you come across this brand before? I haven’t, hence I wasn’t too eager to quickly slap it on my face.  But I thought it would be such a waste of what might be a good product if I don’t even give it a try. So I decided to do some background research first (on the Internet, of course!) and this is what I gathered.

The Brand



Image credit: http://www.trademarkia.com/

Skeyndor was started in 1966 by Publio Puente, a doctor in Chemical Sciences and Juan Morcillo, an Industrial Engineer, in Terrassa, a lovely town 20 kilometres north of Barcelona, Spain.

Skeyndor means “golden skin” in Spanish. It is the No. 1 skincare brand in Spain and is rated as one of the top 15 cosmetic brands in the world. The brand is present in over 45 countries through a network of 40 international distributors.


The Products



Various Skeyndor products have won awards over the years. According to the company, a number of celebrities use the products including Monica Belluci, Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman. The brand carries over 200 products for a variety of skin care needs.

The quality of Skeyndor products is the result of scrupulous research and subsequent manufacturing of all and every one of their products. Already existing products are continuously being re-formulated and improved, to adapt to the innovations that arise in the market.

Skeyndor products are made for use at home, in spas and professional beauty salons and skin clinics. Using a combination of marine and plant ingredients, the products are said by the company to “combine science and nature".


Power Hyaluronic

Image credit: http://www.cerisilk.com/

The Skeyndor Moisturizing Booster that I got is from their Power Hyaluronic range which aims to balance the skin's natural hydrodynamics and improve overall hydration. In case you are saying hydro what (?), hydrodynamics is the measurement of water retention and loss in the skin. If these two elements are balanced, the skin is optimally hydrated. The key ingredients that make the range effective include 1% Hyaluronic Acid, Xylitol and its derivatives.

Hyaluronic Acid naturally occurs in the skin to retain moisture (like a sponge!) and at the same time protects it from water loss caused by environmental pollutants, while Xylitol helps to increase the levels of Aquaporins in the skin. Aquaporins are the proteins in charge of transporting water to the cell of the skin.


Skeyndor Moisturizing Booster



Image credit: http://www.essentialdayspa.com/

So what is a booster, I hear you ask? Boosters are products that will increase the effectiveness of the products used, i.e. they act as amplifiers. A booster has a very specialized function for e.g. to hydrate the skin and it needs other cosmetics to carry out its function. Booster cosmetics have 4 main features: high concentration of active ingredients, immediate absorption, fast action and deep repair.

The Skeyndor Moisturizing Booster is an intensive facial moisturizing booster. It is said to enhance the properties of any moisturizer and is great for all skin types. By using it underneath your moisturizer, it provides 24-hour non-stop moisture for your skin; softens wrinkles caused by dehydration and reduces flakiness, redness or itchiness on the skin.

The product is recommended for people over the age of 20 and is safe for daily use. After your usual face cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine, apply a small quantity to the face and throat and massage gently.

Sounds good so far, right? Now that I’ve learned a bit about the product, I think I’m more confident to start using it on my skin.

So watch this space, guys – I can’t wait to share my experience with all of you soon!

Till then,

Lotsa Luv

Info credit:

http://www.cerisilk.com/quench-skins-thirst-power-hyaluronic/

What You Need During the First and Second Trimester of Pregnancy - Part1

Hi Guys!

So, I have just graduated from my second trimester and now I am in the awkwardly-protruding-belly-button trimester (read: third trimester). Since, I've been having this thing called "pregnancy brains" where I have trouble remembering things I thought I should pen down some of my thoughts and experience from my first and second trimester before I completely forget them.

This post is going to be all about first trimester and I will write a subsequent post to describe my second trimester experience.

I was super blessed and did not experience any morning sickness at all.  However, my blood pressure was pretty low during the first trimester, which is actually absolutely normal during early pregnancy hence I was pretty much exhausted and dizzy all the time. But other than that, Alhamdulillah,  my first trimester went on really smoothly.

What do you Need during the First Trimester of Pregnancy?

• Pregnancy Apps

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I immediately downloaded Pregnancy Apps on both my phone and on my husband's phone. Pregnancy Apps like babycenter Pregnancy, What to Expect and BabyBump help track your pregnancy, provide you with a lot of information, tips and tricks and allow you to join community social groups so that you can connect with other expecting mothers all over the world. It is absolutely helpful especially for first-time moms.

• Set your first appointment with your preferred OB/GYN and get started on prenatal supplements

Getting a good doctor is very important during pregnancy. This is the person who will see you through your pregnancy, provide medical advice and most importantly will be the one responsible for the safe delivery of your precious baby (with Allah's will). Throughout your pregnancy, you will need to go through various examinations and tests as well as sharing intimate details about your body. So choose wisely. You need someone you're comfortable with instead of being intimidated by.In choosing a doctor, do also lookout for their historical delivery experience and it is important to choose a doctor who will support and honor your birth plans. Good doctors in Klang Valley are highly sought after. Some would actually take a few months before you get to secure your very first appointment. So as soon as you know youre pregnant start asking friends and family for references and recommendations as well as do your research online and once you have decided, call to make your first appointment. Meanwhile, get advice from your current doctor on prenatal supplements. Most doctor will recommend taking Duphaston and Acid Folic during the first trimester. You may also need a progesterone jab to strengthen your uterus if have mild bleeding during the first trimester.

• Stock-up on Pantyliners

Without being too TMI, basically the hormonal changes in your body will cause increase in discharge down there. It is very important to maintain cleanliness to avoid infections. Even more so for Muslims as we need to ensure that we are clean every time we pray, five times a day. Normally, you will need multiple pantyliner changes in one day. So always carry a few extras in your handbag!

• Stretch Mark Creams

I was told by many that stretch marks prevention must begin as early as the first trimester. So one of the first things that I bought during my first trimester was Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula for Stretch Marks. I diligently applied the butter on stretch marks prone areas (tummy and thighs) every night before I go to bed starting from 8 weeks.

However, after finishing the whole tub I decided to do more research on stretch marks and found out that cocoa butter has not been proven to reduce stretch marks! Disappointed by my new findings, I turned to my colleague who has been pregnant twice but is still slender and fabulous. She told me that Olive Oil and Virgin Coconut Oil worked wonders for her so that very same day I went to the nearest pharmacy and bought Palmer's Olive Butter Formula. They smell nice and are less stickier than the Cocoa Butter. The results? Ask me again after I give birth. 

• Pregnancy, Childcare and Parenting Books

As first-time moms, we are clueless about anything and everything. Knowledge is power, so don't be stingy in investing on good books to keep you informed on what is currently happening to your body and what to expect in the time to come. Many said that the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book is the Holy Book when it comes to pregnancy but having personally own the book, I feel like most of the content and information in the book can be found online. Personally, I prefer books that are more graphic/pictorial. There are plenty of books in the market currently so choose one that you find interesting and will not make you doze off after reading the first few pages!

• Research & Book Confinement Lady Services

Most Confinement Lady services are pre-booked way in advanced especially if you're around Klang Valley area. So make sure, researching, considering and engaging with conversations with the service providers early. Some of them require 50% deposit to secure bookings.

Things to consider when searching for Confinement Lady:

• Budget
• Stay-in/Daily Visits
• Length of Stay/Duration of Visit
• Location and Transportation Costs
• What services do you need? Do you need food to be prepared, clothes to be washed, or extra care for your newborn baby? Do you need confinement care set to be provided?

Here are some Confinement Lady options around Klang Valley you can choose from:

• Kakak Adek Confinement Therapist.  Offers various confinement packages from 3 days - 14 days. Additional fees for baby care and transportation. Contact Eni at 0176759218
• Siti Aishah Confinement. Early reservation required with 50% deposit. Fees are on per-session basis. One downside is we can't choose our preferred Confinement Lady visitation hours, as it is based on availability of Confinement Lady.  Contact Puan Mira at 016-2278421
• Jemari Tradisional. Offers stay-in Confinement Lady services. Packages can be viewed at http://rawatanbersalin.blogspot.com/. Contact Puan Rozita at 012-2431966
• Shadira Post Malay Natal Treatment. Also offers stay-in Confinement Lady. All packages can be viewed at http://shadirabeauty.com/blog/category/services/ , however I must say that the packages are a bit pricey. Contact Shadira at 012-2141 780 
• Sri Wajah Ibu. Their packages include complete postnatal set and can viewed at https://www.facebook.com/RahsiaSriWajahIbu. Contact Farhana at 013-671 1961

During the first trimester, there are a lot of things happening and changing within our body, internally without us noticing. Physically/externally, the changes can be minimal or less visible. If you don't have your morning sickness chances are there are days when you don't feel pregnant at all. Be careful and do not over exert yourself. First trimester is when your pregnancy is the most delicate so always ensure that you have plenty of rest and take things slowly.

If you are currently in your first trimester and experiencing bad morning sickness, hang in there! Keep your spirits high and always remember no good deeds go unnoticed in the "eyes" of Allah. So think about the rewards that Allah is blessing you with in exchange of the discomforts you're currently having. InsyaAllah, better days will come soon!

Till then, Keep well

Liv

My Pregnant - Hammam Experience

Do you remember the days when our moms used to bathe us? Well, my mom would get to every nook and cranny of my body and I would leave the bathroom feeling really clean and fresh. It was kinda different if it was my dad who bathe me, though - all I can remember was some quick splash of water and fighting not to get shampoo into my eyes and 5 minutes later I was already dressed. Ahh.. the good memories of childhood!

Anyway, if you ever felt like reliving your childhood memory of being bathe by someone else you should definitely head to Hammam for a Hammam and Gommage session!

What is Hammam? You may ask. Well, Hammam is a traditional Moroccan version of a Turkish Bath. Hammam in Arabic means "spreader of warmth" and you can trace its roots from Ancient Greek Roman bathhouse culture.

Hammam has been my annual birthday ritual for the past couple of years except for 2014 because unfortunately my birthday fell on the "National Mourning Day" and I thought it didn't feel right to spend the day by indulging myself with a Spa Session.

I visited the Bangsar Village II outlet recently for a Hammam, Gommage and Moorish Body polish session - I thought it will be a nice way to start the new year as well as a good way to reward myself after spending a couple of weeks studying for my MBA exams!

 

The Bathing Area (Picture credit to thestar.com.my)

Why I love Hammam? Well, A Hammam and Gommage session isn't like any other of your typical body spa session where the therapist will slather scrub all over your body and then let you soak yourself in a bath tub filled with 7 different kinds of flowers.

During a Hammam and Gommage session, the therapist will literally bathe you like a kid. To give you a better idea, let me walk you through a typical Hammam and Gommage & Moorish Body Polish session.

Before you begin, you will be taken to the Locker area where you will given disposables to cover your vital parts, a bath robe and a pair of slippers to change into. If you're not comfortable wearing disposables, you can also bring your own pair of bikini. After that, you will be brought to the Moroccan style "bathing area" which is a warm tiled room with a water trough.

Hammam and Gommage

During a Hammam session, the therapist will pour warm water all over your body and then slather you with the "Beldi Black Soap". The Beldi Black Soap is made of olives and is meant to prepare your skin for vigourous exfoliation during the Gommage session.

During the Gommage session, the therapist will use a special glove and scrub all over your body. She will get to all the nooks and cranny of your body -including the back of your ears, the folds of your legs, your armpits, so technically, every single part of your body will be covered and  all the dead skin cells will be scrubbed away! At this point, you can see literally see rolls of dead skin cells laying around  all over and around your body. It is a bit gross but very invigorating at the same time! Your skin will feel much clearer and smoother after a gommage session.

Moorish Body Polish
After you're all cleaned up and all of your dead skin cells have been removed, the therapist will then slather volcanic clay all over your body. The volcanic clay is mined from the Atlas mountains and is used as a hair and body mask to thicken hair keratin, remineralises, detoxifies and soften skin. After about 20 minutes, the therapist will again pour warm water all over your body to rid of the body mask.

Once you're all done, the therapist will then again bathe you with soap and shampoo and get this, will also pat you dry and help you put your robe back on! Once you're done with the whole session, you will be taken to the lounge area and served a nice hot mint tea and Baklava dessert to wind down.

The Lounge Area (Picture credit to thestar.com.my)

 

Things to Consider

• The bathing area in Bangsar outlet can accomodate 2 person at a time, and having someone to bathe you means that you will need to expose parts of your body to the therapist and potentially another stranger in the room. But thankfully, most of the time I was there I got the room all to myself. But if you're uncomfortable exposing yourself to total strangers then Hammam is definitely not for you.
• The bathing area can be quite warm, so it is not recommended if you're in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Always check with your OBGYN and your Hammam therapist if you plan to indulge in a Hammam session during pregnancy.
• Having said that, the therapist will take extra pecautionary care when dealing with pregnant ladies. They will ensure that you are in a comfortable position, provide support when needed and most definitely, you will not be asked to lie flat on your tummy! I also felt like the Gommage scrub was also more gentle this time around.

If you're interested on booking an appointment, you are advised to contact either their Publika or Bangsar Village II outlet at least 3 days in advanced as they usually run full. For more info, checkout their official website.


Till Then, Happy Hammam-ing!

Liv

What's in my Travel Make-up Bag

I am currently away on business in Singapore and I thought I'd share with you - what's in my travel bag.

I am not the full-faced make up kind of person. I usually just go for the "my skin but better" looks, just so that i don't look like a zombie. So I don't really carry a tonne of make up products when I travel. But trust me these are the basics you need when you're on-the-go:

1. Laura Mercier foundation primer (travel size)

2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude (travel size)

3. Laniege BB Cushion in Natural Beige (full size) - I used this interchangeably with the Tinted Moisturizer depending on my mood (this product works wonders too)

4. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in No.4 (full size) - For under eye and spot corrections

5. Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Rose Bloom (travel size) - not highly pigmented but does the work to give you rosycheeks 

6. Chanel Le Blanc Compact Foundation in 22 Beige Rose (full size) - to set the moisturizer and give the face the matte effect

7. My trusty and the only lipstick I ever need in my life - my YSL lipstick. I am not sure of the actual shade as the description at the bottom of the lipstick has worn off (shows how much I overuse this lipstick). It is very moisturizing and has a glossy finish so you can definitely just leave your lip balm and lip gloss at home. Sometimes I double my lipstick as a blusher too - just dab a little on the apples of the checks, blend away and voila! Dont forget to mattify it with a bit of powder though. Did i tell you the lipstick smells wonderful too? 

I usually carry a miniature perfume in this bag too but I have ran out of one so i just carry my full sized DKNY apple perfume in my luggage. (Mental note: need to buy a few at the airport on my way back)

Notice I do not have any brushes in my make-up bag? That's because I am a firm believer that your hands are your best make up tool. The back of your hand is your pallete and your fingers are your brushes!

Before I end this post, thought I'd share with you a picture of the infamous Orchard $1 ice-cream sandwich (now $1.20 though). A must have when you're strolling along Orchard Road!

Ciao from Singapore!

Liv

Spa at the Convenience of Your Own Home

As soon as my husband mentioned about his weekend golfing trip to KK with the boys, only one thing comes to my mind. ME time !! Don't get me wrong, as much as I hate being away from my husband even for a short while (because I am a clingy wife like that), it is my opportunity to catch up with some ME time. So i quickly whatsapp-ed AIRNYS, my favourite Luxury Mobile Spa to book my 90 minutes massage slot on Sunday afternoon.

Dealing with AIRNYS is easy. All I need to do is to whatsapp them and they will advise everything else. They're response are very timely and professional too. One of the best thing is that you don't have to make any deposit or advanced payment to secure your booking. You can just pay the total amount to the therapist at the end of your session.

This is actually my second experience with AIRNYS. The first time I tried their LUXE package (RM328) which includes Detox Foot Spa, Full Body Polish and 90 minutes massage therapy. The whole LUXE treatment took about 2 hours and 30 minutes with additional 15 minutes set-up time. This time around I opted for the 90 minutes massage therapy (RM208). 

You can choose either aromatherapy, swedish or deep tissue massage. They do not offer pre-natal massages (I was 21 weeks along when I had the massage) but they do take necessary precautions required to address pregnancy issues. The massage will be of soft-to-medium pressure, with critical areas avoided. The aromatherapy/massage oil is changed to cellulite oil (chargeable at RM25) and the honey ginger tea they usually serve at the end of the massage will also be substituted with Evian mineral water. Most importantly, you will be lying on your sides instead of on your stomach.

Before you start your session, you will need to fill up a form to provide your details and indicate your massage preference. You can tell the therapist if you prefer to concentrate on certain problematic area and tell them the pressure you would like them to apply.

My therapist, Suria was gentle and courteous, and most importantly - arrived on time. She provided me with bath robe, disposable underwear (a nice boxer briefs instead of the flimsy thongs spa usually provides) and also slippers.

She took about 10 minutes to set up the massage bed, music and light up scented candles - yes, they provide they're own portable massage bed so you don't have to worry about staining your bedsheets with massage oil and they really do go all out in creating an actual spa ambiance at your home. 

All in all, I was absolutely happy with the services provided. I think the price is very reasonable considering that it is extremely convenient that I don't have to get ready, travel, find a parking spot, you know, the whole hassle of going to a physical spa. With AIRNYS, I can just go straight to sleep after the therapist has left! will definitely book a session with AIRNYS the next time my husband is out of town.

For more information please visit their website http://airnys.com/ or follow them on Instagram @airnys

Till then,

Liv

My Skin but Better!

Ever since I got pregnant, I became very lazy  got tired easily. I appreciate every last bit of my sleep and tend to hit the snooze button more often in the morning. More sleep only means that I have less time to get ready in the morning.

Pregnancy has also taken a toll on my skin condition. So, I badly needed something to give my skin a refreshing boost, doesn't feel cakey, gives enough coverage to cover minor imperfections but most importantly I needed something that can be applied with just my hands without having to use a sponge or stifling brush. I ain't got time for make up tools! Especially not in the morning. And I finally found the perfect solution for my problem.

The Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and Tinted Moisturizer! The combination of these two products really does all that.

After cleansing, I will use my favourite toner, skip moisturizer and apply the Foundation Primer all over my face. The primer has a very light, hydrating texture which gives the skin the jolt of refresher it needs in the morning. It doesn't leave your skin feeling matte and cakey, unlike the Benefit's Pore-fessional. The primer needs 1-2 minutes for it to be completely absorbed by your skin.

 

Once the primer is well absorbed, your skin will feel fresh and hydrated and this is your cue to apply the Tinted Moisturizer. The Nude tone blends perfectly well with my skin color. I normally squeeze a small dollop into my palm and blend the product using my fingers before applying to my entire face. A small dollop goes a long way with this Tinted Moisturizer. After that, just apply loose powder to set it and voila, you're good to go!

The products are absolutely perfect if you want to achieve the no-make up look. It's still your skin, but only better!

But, I have to admit that it does not provide enough coverage to cover dark spots and eye bags. So, if you're keen on hiding those then you also need a concealer for the extra coverage. It also comes with SPF20 so it gives you protection from damaging sun rays to a certain extent. The full size is 1.7 oz which will last you for about 3 months (depending on usage) and they also come in a handy 1.0 oz travel size which is absolutely perfect for touch-ups when you're on the go.

All in all, I am very happy with my purchase and I definitely see myself returning to the Laura Mercier booth at Bangsar Village to restock!

For more info about the product, please visit these links:

http://www.sephora.com/foundation-primer-P109929?icid2=adivce_reviews_P109929

http://www.sephora.com/tinted-moisturizer-broad-spectrum-P109936?skuId=1435981

 

 

 

Till then!

Liv